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The Web was buzzing Friday with reports suggesting that Randy Jackson , the only remaining original "American Idol" judge, will follow Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler away from the judges table. A report at www.tmz.com called Jackson's exit "official," but said he would still be part of the show by mentoring the contestants. Meanwhile, a story at www.eonline.com played it safer, saying only that Jackson's future is "still up in the air" and adding that his role would not be decided until the rest of the judges are in place. So far, only Mariah Carey has officially signed on for the 12th season of the show, which begins in January. But several names have been thrown into the rumor mill as possible judges. Among them: Kevin Jonas , Katy Perry , Miley Cyrus , Kanye West and Enrique Iglesias . TMZ has been reporting that Nicki Minaj 's deal to be a judge is 99% done, and it reported Friday that Keith Urban is in "final negotiati...

Olivia Culpo is Miss USA 2012. The 20-year-old Miss Rhode Island won the 61st annual pageant Sunday and will go on to represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant later this year. She topped a field of 51 contestants on Sunday to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip to take the coveted title . First runner-up was Miss Maryland Nana Meriwether, while second runner-up was Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte. Congratulations go out to all three lovely ladies. There can be only one winner, though, and it was the beautiful brunette , a student at Boston University who donned a stunning purple Grecian-style gown. Throughout the night, Culpo discussed her love of music - she played the cello for 13 years and was an avid band camper - and for quoting celebrities. Culpo's best moment was when she explained why it would be fair if a transgender woman - like Canada's controversial Jenna Talackova - won the title: "I do th...

In this image taken from AP video, Will Smith, center right, slaps Ukrainian reporter Vitalii Sediuk, the guy in the white suit, on the red carpet before the "Men in Black III" premiere in Moscow Friday. (AP) Red carpets â€" so stressful! Last fall it was Omar Sharif slapping a pesky fan at a film festival in Qatar. Now it’s Will Smith , who was caught on video swatting at a reporter who, he said later, had tried to kiss him on the lips at a “Men in Black 3” premiere in Moscow. “What the hell is your problem, buddy?” Smith says in the instantly-viral clip as he pushes him away and then cuffs the man lightly on the cheek with the back of his hand. What kind of reporter would try to kiss an A-lister on the red carpet? Turns out it was Ukrainian TV journalist Vitalii Sediuk , reports the AP â€" the same guy who caused a botanical incident last fall when he foisted a bouquet upon Madonna at the Venice Film Festival; her eye-rolling whisper, “I absolut...

Jackson speaks during a panel for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" during Comic Con International convention in San Diego ( Mario Anzuoni Reuters, REUTERS / July 15 , 2012 ) Reuters 8:19 p.m. CDT , August 31, 2012 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The third film in the upcoming "Hobbit" movie trilogy will be released worldwide in July 2014, the movie studios behind the venture said on Friday, and the second film now has a new name. The third film -- "The Hobbit: There and Back Again" -- will open in movie theaters on July 18, 2014 - just seven months after the newly titled second film "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" arrives on December 13, 2013. The second film originally carried the "There and Back Again" title. The first film, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" starring British actor Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, has already been set for a December 14, 2012 opening. Director Peter Jackson, Time Wa...

Jason Merritt, Getty Images Taylor Swift makes some pretty hilarious facial expressions. So when it came to searching for animated pictures of the sonstress on the web, we were cracking up over her dances moves and overzealous expressions. Check out some of the hilarious GIFs we found of Ms. Swift, and see how she reacted to John Mayer and Katy Perry ‘s breakup, Honey Boo Boo, and the cancellation of the Jersey Shore. When Taylor Swift found out she broke Ke$ha’s digital sales record. When Taylor Swift saw Katy Perry, Kitty Purry, and Shannon Woodward’s cover of ‘We are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ When Taylor Swift saw Connor Kennedy for the first time. When Taylor Swift found out she was performing at the VMA’s this year. When Taylor Swift found out John Mayer dumped Katy Perry over e-mail. When Taylor Swift saw an episode of ‘ Here Comes Honey Boo Boo ‘ for the first time. When Taylor Swift found out ‘Jersey Shore’ got...

If you've got Taylor Swift's latest single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" stuck in your head, don't expect it to leave anytime soon, particularly now that we have an equally engaging and whimsical music video to ingrain it deeper. In addition to the video's catchy, quirky, colorful qualities, one thing we couldn't help but fixate on was Swift's love interest â€" or ex-love interest in this case â€" played by the very charming, tall, dark and handsome Noah Mills. MTV News was lucky enough to catch up with the model-turned-actor recently to get some inside scoop on making the video with Swift. "When I met her and then [director Declan Whitebloom], they very much have this [shorthand]. They like to keep it light and jokey," he explained. "It's really smart, really witty and really quick. It was one take for the whole video, and then they had the band in those animal outfits which they were stoked abo...

With the music world still searching for answers as to why music mogul Chris Lighty would take his own life, his partner Michael "Blue" Williams offers some insight. There has been much made about Lighty's tax debt to the IRS, but Williams, who partnered with Chris to form the management company Primary Violator last year, urges the public not to focus on the dollar amount. "Chris' debt is probably less important than the pressure that he was under," Williams told MTV News on Friday (August 31). "What people are missing and what people don't see and what Chris is an example of is how much, as black men, we carry around and don't always communicate." Thursday morning, police responded to a call at Lighty's Bronx, New York, residence and found the mega-manager to stars like 50 Cent and Mariah Carey lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead on the scene in what authorities are calling a sui...

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine... The Good, the Bad and the Ugly The reviews are in, and mixed, for Clint Eastwood's Republican convention speech last night when he addressed an empty chair meant to represent President Obama. The Associated Press called it bizarre, rambling, and odd. Film critic Roger Ebert tweeted in part -â€" quote -- "Clint, my hero, is coming across as sad and pathetic." Country singer Charlie Daniels tweeted -â€" quote -- "Clint Eastwood made my day." Ann Romney called it "unique." President Obama tweeted this picture, with the caption -- quote -- "this seat's taken." The Romney camp defended Eastwood telling the Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz -- quote -- "We know it played well in the hall. I think it played well in the living room. We're not really concerned about how it played in the green room." The speech also prompted people to upload photos ...

>>> i know what you're thinking. you're thinking what's a movie tradesman doing out here. >> all things being equal, it wasn't that strange to have a blockbuster movie star, a celebrity guest who has delivered countless classic lines on the silver screen appear on stage to rev up the crowd for mitt romney . nothing was that odd about it until this. >> so i've got -- i've got mr. obama sitting here and i just was going to ask him a couple questions, but -- >> over the next seven minutes, clint eastwood proceeded to have a conversation with an empty chair. >> mr. president, how do you -- how do you handle -- how do you handle promises that you've made when you were running for election and how do you handle -- how do you handle it? i mean, what do you say to people? do you just, you know, i know people are wondering, you know -- >> as the interview continued, things got a little testy. >> i...

The good news about the "Moonwalker: Music of Michael Jackson" show is there are still a few more days to catch it before it moves on. The show, starring Michael Firestone will continue Wednesday, August 29 through Sunday, September 2. Firestone captures the essence of Jackson in a recreation that is both sincere and fun for audiences. There is a respect to the Jackson legacy in this show that elevates things to an artistic level. One gets the feeling that Michael Jackson would give a stamp of approval to things if he so could. But Firestone has been giving Jackson respect for a long timeâ€"even before the entertainer's death. He performed as Jackson in live shows, such as “MTV Magic” and “Around the World in Asia.” He also performed for “Legends in Concert” in Myrtle Beach, and many other venues. When Jackson died, Firestone wasn’t going to change things to cash in on any new-found interest in a Jackson tribute show. He would continue to present his ...

Posted 10 mins ago by MTV News in Music News By Rob Markman Fans celebrated Michael Jackson's 54th birthday on Wednesday, and a few days later, August 31 marks the 25th anniversary of his critically acclaimed album Bad . On August 31, 1987, Michael Jackson set out to do the impossible: Try to  outdo  Thriller , his classic 1982 LP. "It was the follow-up to the greatest-selling album of all time. A lot of people slept on it," Spike Lee told MTV News of  Bad,  which the King of Pop released 25 years ago today. It's a story that the critically acclaimed film director explores in his new "Bad 25" documentary, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival and will be  broadcast in the U.S. on Thanksgiving . Ultimately, Mike fell short of his goal. It's estimated that  Thriller  sold over 110 million copies since its release, while  Bad  has moved over 30 million, but Spike believes in MJ's 1987 release so much that h...

If you were just thinking to yourself that the summer box-office needed more movies about ancient demons trapped inside of wooden boxes, look no further than "The Possession," in theaters now. Starring "Watchmen" actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan and "The Closer" star Kyra Sedgwick, "The Possession" focuses on a family torn asunder when young Em (Natasha Colis) gets her hands on a box containing an evil spirit that rapidly transforms her into something otherworldly. Directed by Ole Bornedal and produced by horror legend Sam Raimi , "The Possession" wins points for originality in a tired genre, particularly in its casting. After all, it's not every day you get to see a movie starring Matisyahu as a Jewish exorcist, is it? Read on for a selection of reviews for "The Possession." The Story "Malevolent boxes abound in horror movies (the Rubik's Cube-like container of 'Hellraiser' being one of the most mem...

Pour out a shot of Jäger for the grenades who are no more. Throw up one last fist-pump in memory of those nights at Karma, because all guido things must come to end. MTV announced Thursday that is canceling its hit reality series Jersey Shore . Its stars are growing up â€"as much as one can ever expect them toâ€"and ratings are down. The show’s upcoming sixth season, premiering Oct. 4, will be its last. When the series introduced viewers to GTL enthusiasts (that’s Gym, Tan, Laundry) Snooki, J-Woww, the Situation, Pauly D, Sami Sweetheart, Ronnie, and Deena, the look at a group of twentysomethings’ boozy nights during a summer in Seaside Heights, N.J., polarized its audience. Italian Americans blasted the show for the cast’s unflattering embodiment of ethnic stereotypes, but the series quickly grew to become the most popular program in MTV history. By its third season, almost 9 million viewers were tuning in to see the tanned crew’s ridiculous shenani...

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart at 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' UK Premiere at Westfield Stratford, London on November 16, 2011. Photo Credit: Solarpix / PR Photos August 04, 2012, (Sawfnews.com) - Kristen Stewart had become secretive in the days leading to her cheating scandal, making Robert Pattinson suspect something was going on, a close friend of Rob tells Us Weekly's new issue now on stands. Kristen was allowing Rob free access to her phone. "Kristen is normally very relaxed about her phone," says the friend, "and she was being really weird lately." Rob confronted Kristen on her secretiveness, "but she reassured him nothing was going on," the source adds. Multiple media outlets have quoted their sources on set of 'Snow White and the Huntsman' as saying that Rupert was smitten by Kristen, but she remained largely unaffected by his infatuation. A security source tells Us Weekly's new issue, "...

Stevie Wonder ’s “My Cherie Amor” is no more. The soul singer announced Friday his official split from wife Kai Millard Morris .  Married since 2001, the couple has been legally separated since October 2009.  Born Stevland Hardaway Morris, Wonder is represented by attorney Laura Wasser, who’s previously handled proceedings for several celebrity clients such as Maria Shriver, Kim Kardashian and the former Ms. Kobe Bryant all in 2011.  According to TMZ, he cited irreconcilable differences and authorized the divorce papers by stamping his two fingerprints. STORY: Billboard Music Awards 2012: Stevie Wonder Addresses Robin Gibb, Donna Summer Deaths Wonder, the father of five grown children from previous relationships, has two children with Morris-- Kailand, 10 and Mandla, 7.  He has agreed to share custody of the two boys and pay child support. In addition, he has offered spousal support. Morris previously had a successful career as a fashiondesigner, designing a co...

Peter Jackson has embarked on an unexpected journey indeed, as the filmmaker has revealed that his two-part adaptation of "The Hobbit" has now officially added a third movie . In a message posted on his Facebook account , Jackson confirmed the rumors that a third "Hobbit" movie is indeed in the offing, with Variety's Josh Dickey asserting that the film will hit theaters in summer 2014 â€" a departure from the planned December 2013 and 2014 releases for the first two "Hobbit" adventures. A more specific release date is not currently known. "It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made," Jackson wrote of the decision to expand the "Hobbit" adaptation as a trilogy. "We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life. All of which gave ris...

By Randee Dawn Simon Cowell may think Mariah Carey is too "sweet" for the rigors of "American Idol" judging, but that's not Ryan Seacrest's take on it at all. "I actually called her last night and I said, 'So welcome to the family,'" the "Idol" host, who is assisting NBC with its Olympic coverage, told TODAY's Matt Lauer in London Thursday. "I said, 'What are you going to be like on the show? She said, 'You know how I am: I'm very honest. I say what I'm thinking.' I said, 'Great. You'll fit right in.'" Carey will be taking the seat of departed Jennifer Lopez, and Seacrest said, "We're sad to see her go." But the big question now is who will take over the chair once occupied so flamboyantly by Steven Tyler.  "I've heard rumors of Brad Paisley, I've heard rumors of Pink, I've heard rumors about all kinds of people. And the way that it works is...

Recording artist LeAnn Rimes attends the 36th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Qualifying Day of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13, 2012, in Long Beach, Calif. (Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (CBS/AP) LeAnn Rimes sued two women she claims illegally recorded a phone call with her and posted part of the conversation online, one day after she sought professional help for anxiety and stress. Read More: LeAnn Rimes enters in-patient treatment facility Rimes sued Kimberly Smiley and her adult daughter Lexi on Thursday, seeking more than $25,000 in damages for recording a March phone conversation that ended up online on websites bashing the country singer. Kimberly Smiley denied she posted the recording, saying she shared it with online acquaintances, one of whom played it for the ex-wife of Rimes' husband, Eddie Cibrian. "The whole thing is just ridiculous," she said. "It's just a celebrity who's too full of herself." The ...

This will be the last season for the stars of Seaside Heights By Associated Press | August 31, 2012 | AP Photo / MTV / Ian Spanier Photography The cast of "Jersey Shore," from left, Paul " DJ Pauly D" Delvecchio, Deena Nicole Cortese, Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola and Ronnie Magro in Seaside Heights, N.J. NEW YORK (AP) â€" MTV gave the last call for Jersey Shore on Thursday, saying the raucous reality show will conclude after its upcoming sixth season, which begins Oct. 4. The series, whose roots lay in a party house in Seaside Heights, N.J., has given rise to stars such as Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, just two from a cast of characters who were over-tanned, over-loud and always pumped up. It popularized the terms “guido” and “guidette” and the mant...

For Taylor Swift, the 18th time is the charm. The potential next Pitbull told MTV that's how many tries it took to pull off the playful and endearing new video for her current chart-topping, record-breaking single, Max Martin co-produced breakup anthem "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." And it's easy to see why she needed so many mulligans: Directed by previous collaborator Declan Whitebloom, the clip is "all in one take, shot with one camera, 5 costume changes, and woodland creatures," as Swift said on Twitter yesterday. Persistence, as it happens, is a theme of the song and video, too. Swift surely knows the Adam Levine lookalike who plays her clingy ex will lead to some more sales-greasing publicity ahead of the October 22 release of her upcoming album Red â€" OMG was she secretly dating the Maroon 5 frontman? â€" though it's hard to believe the actual The Voice judge who sings "Payphone" would listen to ...

David Livingston / Getty Images Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott with children Liam, Stella and Hattie. By Bruna Nessif, E! Online Another precious little boy has entered the world. According to her personal website , Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott welcomed a son, the couple's fourth child together Thursday, and first shared the news on Twitter when she posted , "It's a boy!!!!" "We are so excited to announce the birth of the newest member of the McDermott family," she wrote. "Please join us in welcoming Finn Davey McDermott." Aw, Finn! (Anybody else having a "Gleek" moment right now?) Giuliana and Bill welcomed a son, too! Finn arrived at 5:39 p.m., weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Spelling and McDermott announced the pregnancy back in March. "Dean, Liam, Stella Hattie and I are beyond thrilled to announce that another little McDermott is on the way!" Tor...